Wiki Category: Half Yearly Meeting

RTI HYM 2025 Paphos, Cyprus

Organiser: Round Table Cyprus
Main Event Dates: 5–9 March 2025

Let’s party on Aphrodite’s island! The heart of Round Table was beating in Paphos (Pafos) with over 400 attendees coming from over 33 countries and Goddess Aphrodite was our hostess for the  RTI Half Year Meeting of March 2025.

The Location

Situated at the north-eastern end of the Mediterranean basin, Cyprus is an island rich in history and culture and full of wonderful experiences. Located on the southwest coast of the island, Pafos boasts a temperate climate and one of the healthiest lifestyles in the Mediterranean.

A year-round destination, Pafos combines crystal-clear waters, inviting beaches, ancient sites, mountainside wineries, gastronomic experiences and many more. Every corner traces the path of Aphrodite, where the ancient goddess of love and beauty once roamed. That’s why our initial motto was Let’s meet on Aphrodite’s island!

Pretours: Exploring Cyprus

Before diving into the main event, tablers and generally Round Table Family made their own island pre-tour or select some of our options. The lucky ones being in Cyprus the weekend before the HYM, enjoyed the carnival parades in Pafos and Limassol.

Some others, played golf, visited the Akamas Peninsula (National Park) or the only divided capital of the world, Nicosia or enjoyed few wines in Pafos Wines Route or followed Aphrodite’s Trail!

Tours have been available also during the main event and the sunny weather conditions allowed to 90 participants cruising to Blue Lagoon, where the brave ones swam also!

Wednesday Welcome Party

We blend a pub, a dj, the clone of Rod Stewart and a few hundreds of smashing plates and we had an explosive official opening of the RTI HYM 2025! Old friends met for a first time, circlers & tablers socialised and exchanged pins, while the dancing floor was a war zone from the smashing plates!

OPA OPA!

Thursday; Traditional Night

Buses whisked us away to a nearby venue for a traditional Cyprus Night. Except the many local dishes, the highlight has been the live bouzouki with traditional dancing, which entertained guests throughout the evening. Chris Mintoff (RTI Vice President) even danced with few glasses on his head! And of course, the belly dancers closed the night, since Cyprus is the island where the Greek entertainment blends with Arabic one!

Nation’s Night

The highlight of any RTI meeting is Nations Night. Attendees from all represented associations showcased their local delicacies, traditions, and clothing. Selections of cheeses, snacks, sweets etc and an endless variety of drinks were on display for sampling. First-time attendees experienced a sensory overload and enjoyed themselves! DJ beats were giving rhythm to the night which of course ended with a huge Zorba dance!

RTI Councilor’s Meeting and RTI HYM

The two meetings were held at the hotel hall.

The Councillor’s Meeting was not just a forum for best practice exchanges between associations but also included an impactful workshop led by RTDE 18 Wiesbaden (Round Table Germany) dedicated to Men’s Mental Health. The mental health campaign has a core importance for Round Table worldwide…let’s end the stigma!

The Half-Year Meeting got underway with fantastic support from all the Round Table Family members present. A new and livelier format was again implemented. The feedback on the work done by members worldwide, made everyone proud to be a Tabler. Besides the achivements of the Associations we heard about the works of the RTI Board. This included the launch of Tabler.Wiki and of Tabler.World app. Various motions have been voted in order to help Round Table evolve. A short banner exchange followed the meeting, with gifts and greetings shared.

Gala Night

What a better day to conclude the HYM 2025 than the International Women Day. The ONE TEAM ONE DREAM motto was more relevant than ever and thus Daniele offered to all the ladies in the room a flower! The glamour of the Gala Dinner with the voice & saxo duo, the belly dancers, the DJ and of course the Guinness World Record Holder for most glasses balanced on the head Telis, brought the Half-Year Meeting to a stylish close.

Goodbye!

Waking up on Sunday, the attendees departed for the airport with bags full of fond memories.

This event would not have been possible without an incredibly dedicated convening team. Under the Convenor Leondios Tselepos, Round Table Cyprus hosted an event that will live on in the memories of all who attended.

A quest which has been started two years ago, concluded successfully exceeding the expectations of the attendees. The convening team would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to host this international event.  We would like also to thank everyone involved in the planning & implementation of the event…especially RTI Board which trusted us and supported us all the way!

Thank you for this incredible experience! And remember that an end is a new beginning…and the countdown for RTI World Meeting in India just started! Let’s continue making unforgettable memories together!

Efxaristo!

Promotion of Event

Slogan: Let’s party on Aphrodite’s island!

 

 

Report by Leondios Tselepos — RTI HYM 2025 Round Table Cyprus

RTI HYM 2022 Marrakesh, Morocco

Organiser: Round Table Morocco
Dates: 9th — 13thMarch 2022
Location: Marrakesh, Morocco

Main Tour

Marrakech is an intricate maze of narrow streets and a world of souks. Protected from the sun by slatted awnings, visitors explore a variety of markets offering basketwork, dried fruit, spices, clothes, wool, skins, carpets, leatherwork, ironwork, and jewelry. Locally sourced fresh fruit showcased the proud agricultural history of the region.

The KENZI ROSE GARDEN set the scene for the 2022 Half-Year Meeting. A clean and authentic example of Moroccan architecture, Kenzi was within walking distance of most local attractions.

When visiting Morocco, the local food is always a highlight. As one of the premier cuisines in the world, this melting pot of flavors and centuries-old recipes left taste buds wanting more. Throughout our stay, tagine after tagine of tender beef, chicken, and vegetables was served graciously with endless amounts of couscous on the side. No one went hungry in Morocco, and even better, everyone loved this culinary experience.

The cool Moroccan nights allowed for evening parties where many old friends met each other again for the first time in years. This first night together in more than two years for Tablers worldwide was a perfect start to the event.

EXPLORING MARRAKECH

With the official meetings starting on Thursday, most participants were free to explore the resort and the Old City. The markets in the medina proved to be a particular highlight for many visitors, with local merchants especially appreciative of new clientele.

SHARING KNOWLEDGE

The Councillor’s Meeting was followed by training sessions and best practice exchanges between associations. This was a new initiative at an RTI meeting that will continue and grow. A central gathering point was permanently established and became very popular, with a pool reserved for Tablers and their guests.

ARABIAN NIGHTS

Buses whisked us away to a nearby venue for an authentic Arabian Night. Set up in a Bedouin-style tent, we were treated to many local dishes. Traditional dancing entertained guests throughout the evening. The event ended with a traditional horsemanship exhibition, showcasing the Moroccan people’s extraordinary relationship with equine arts. The Numidian charge concluded in a crescendo of gunfire, with the remarkable precision of hearing only a single shot.

THE MEETING

The Half-Year Meeting got underway with fantastic support from all the Round Table Family members present. A new and livelier format was tried and successfully implemented. The feedback on the work done by members worldwide, particularly the efforts to help with the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, made everyone proud to be a Tabler. A short banner exchange followed the meeting, with gifts and greetings shared.

POOL PARTY

Then came the official pool party. Almost everyone got into the pool—some still in their full meeting attire. With most of the official work done, a relaxed atmosphere swept through the attendees. Fun hours in the sun were interspersed with new inductions into the Pool Lizard Association.

NATIONS NIGHT

A highlight of any RTI meeting is Nations Night. Attendees from all represented associations showcased their local delicacies, traditions, and clothing. Selections of cheeses, snacks, sweets, chocolates, and an endless variety of drinks were on display for everyone to sample. From chewing to drinking, and even a good snuff, first-time attendees experienced a sensory overload. Live music, games, and hundreds of people enjoying themselves proved the magic of Nations Night once again.

SHARING IS CARING

As part of the global blood drive, a donation station was set up for guests to contribute. Regional teams held their meetings, where they reviewed reports and discussed matters of common interest.

FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

Another first saw the inaugural RTI Football Tournament take place. Six teams competed in a shortened format of five-a-side football, with representation from all regions except AMI. The competition was intense, with stamina running low due to the previous night’s festivities. The final was contested by two teams from CEE, proving how tough it will be for other regions to claim the trophy in Denmark.

GALA DINNER

The glitz and glamour of the Gala Dinner brought the Half-Year Meeting to a stylish close. After the formalities, course after course showcased the skills of local chefs. The evening ended, like the others, with a party at the hotel, followed by several groups heading out to explore Marrakech’s nightlife.

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

Waking up on Sunday, the realization hit that the event had come to an end. Finishing off with brunch, goodbyes, and bags full of fond memories, attendees departed for the airport before heading their separate ways.

This event would not have been possible without an incredibly dedicated team running the show. Under the leadership of Thami Benkirane, Round Table Morocco hosted an event that will live on in the memories of all who attended. We could not have asked for a better way to reignite the passion that is International Tabling. Thank you for this incredible experience.

THE MEETING

Business Discussed

Full minutes of the meeting can be found on Tabler.World.

THE HALF-YEAR MEETING got underway with fantastic support from all the Round Table Family members present. A new and livelier format to the meeting was tried and successfully implemented. The feedback on the work done by members worldwide, particularly the efforts to help the humanitarian crises in the Ukraine, made everyone proud to be a Tabler. A short banner exchange followed the meeting, where gifts and greetings were exchanged.

Promotion of Event

Video